Due to the circumstances associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), SOWELA Technical Community College has postponed Spring 2020 Commencement Exercises scheduled for Tuesday, May 19. This is in response to the advice given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), other public health officials, and officials in our great state of Louisiana.

The College is assessing the feasibility of rescheduling the ceremony for a later date. If a reschedule date is not possible, students who would have walked during the May 19 Commencement will be invited to participate in the Fall 2020 Commencement Ceremony on Friday, December 18, in the Lake Charles Civic Center at 6:30 p.m. SOWELA’s Commencement Committee is working to determine the best course of action. The committee will be sending surveys to gain student feedback as to what is the best plan for moving forward to celebrate this important milestone.

Students who complete their programs of study by May 11 will still earn their credential(s) and graduate even though they may not participate in a formal commencement ceremony. Academic transcripts will be available, and diplomas will be mailed to graduates in June.

The graduation ceremony is the culmination of all the hard work put forth by our students to pursue and successfully obtain a higher education that provides the means to improve lives. SOWELA’s faculty and staff strive to ensure student success, and we are incredibly proud of the individuals who will graduate this semester. These students are working hard to juggle the day-to-day complexities of life, and exhibit the firm determination to succeed. Their commitment to their dreams is what we want to celebrate.

About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College provides traditional, distance, and lifelong learning experiences and awards associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. The College empowers learners in career and technical education and enables transfer students to pursue a four-year degree so all learners excel as globally competitive citizens. The College has been educating the region’s workforce for 80 years and has locations in Jennings, Lake Charles and Oakdale, LA.

SOWELA Technical Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: